This week, we’re reprising this special episode from early in our first season, as it just won the gold Award for Best Podcast from the North American Travel Journalists Association. And by the way, another Here & There episode took the bronze as well. Below, hear the surprising story of how this young freckle-faced P.E.I. protagonist took by storm on another island half a world away.

If you aren't familiar with Anna Green Gables — dare we ask, where have you been? Because of this book, this story is everywhere. It was written at the turn of the 20th century by P.E.I. resident Lucy Maud Montgomery, and it was published in the summer of 1908. The book was an immediate sensation. Readers were charmed by the central character, young Anne Shirley, a feisty orphan girl with red hair. The story follows Anne as she's adopted by aging brother and sister Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. It’s one of the best selling books in Canada of all time, not to mention Anne movies, TV shows, musicals and cartoons. 

Special thanks to James Gray for our theme song music.